Radiographic device



Oct. 4, 1960 A. J. STEVENS RADIOGRAPHIC DEVICE Filed May l0. 1955 [razeiwar l (/Z y LJ jf ,Ill

United States Patent RADIOGR'APHIC DEVICE Arthur J. Stevens, Mansfield, Mass.assignor to Technical Operations Incorporated, lBurlington, rMas's., a'cdrpoj ration of Delaware y,

Filed May 11o, 195s,A sel-.No.sosnss (Filed under nale 47(1)) and as `'U'.szc. 11s) 1 claims. (c1. 25o-10s) "rapher enabling him to handle up to 4,000 millicuries of cobalt 60 which is radiographically equivalent to 6,000

milligrams of radium.

Another object is to provide a device of the above indicated type which permits easy and safe withdrawal, 'for exposure, of a radioactive source from a shield while -the position of the source is indicated by the withdrawal device.

invention is shaped as a tortuous path with end portions having separate and distinct axes in the same or different general directions. In ya preferred embodiment, these axes are parallel to each other such as inthe case of a generally lU-shaped channel. The control and exit port axes can thus be separated for `location on one face of ythe shield, without in any vway'detr'acting from the shielding effect, while the operation'is facilitated.

- For use as a panoramic exposure device, the equipment according to the' invention comprises a shielding body vwith Ia confiningv channel having a control port and an exit port,'two Iflexible yguide mea-ns (such vas metal hose) extending from respective ports, flexible elongate propelling means` (such -as metal cable) that is movable `within the'channel and both guide means, and coupling means for attaching an energy emitting source to that end of the propelling means that is next to the exit port, for Withdrawal of the coupling means within or for its ejection from the coniining channel through the exit port;

. such equipment further comprises actuating means at the other end of the propelling means and at the free end of the guide means which extends from the control port of the conning channel, for shifting the propelling means and hence the coupling means, within the channel 'and within both flexible guide means, 'and -it lalso comprises, at the free end of the flexible guide means which extends from the exit port, source positioning means for receivin-g the radioactive material that is attached to th coupling means.

The following description of a typical embodiment illustrates lthese and other objects and aspects of novelty Another object of the invention is -to provide a shield Y for radioactive material which provides with a minimum 'of shielding mass a maximum of safety and ease of operation.

A further object is to provide a shield with safety devices which permit safe preselection of position for panoramic exposure with la strongly emittingsource, easy and safe transportation of the source from a shield to Additional objects are to provide radiographic exposure equipment, including shielding, and control components,

which equipment is ruggedly constructed and especially to expose the source from a Iconsiderable distance or from behind a shielding wall, and to provide a handling unit for exposure devices of the present typ-e which is co'mpact, rugged, easy in operation and eliminating so far tubing or hose) extending from at least one of these ports,

flexible elongate propelling means (such `as wire rope) movable within the guide conduit means and the channel within the shielding body, coupling means for att-aching a source (in a carrier or capsule) of radioactive -the point of exposure, 4and easy and safe withdrawal of v-thesource from the point of exposure into the shield.

suited for industrial application permitting the operator material to that end of the propelling means that is nearest to the coniining channel, and further comprises at the other end of the propelling means actuating provisions for ,l shifting the propelling means and hence the coupling within flexible `guide means and the confining channel.

The channel within shielding bodies according to the of the invention. This description. refers to drawings in which Fig. 1 is a schematictop view of la shield for radiographic devices according to the invention for the purpose of panoramic exposure;

Fig. 2 is a section on lines 2-2 of Fig. 1, and shows in addition a panoramic exposure head and part of the control conduit;

Fig. 3 shows, in section, the remainder of the control conduit which is broken away in Fig. 2, and the control unit in axial section;

Pig. 4 'is a section on 'lines 4--4 of Fig. 3; and

Fig. 5 is an axial section through the exposure head shown in lFig. 2.

A block of shielding material is indicated 4at S of Figs. 1 and 2. This shielding body consists essentially ofa metal container '11, welded together from rolled steel sheets 12 and angle irons -14. -In order to facilitate transportation, this housing can ybe provided with handling means, such aseyes for attaching it to hoisting equipment, or with wheels and handrails for moving it by hand; the drawing do'es Inot show such conventional auxiliary provisions.

The shielding block S contains a tortuous path channel C, here in the general shape of la' U, which channel is defined by heavy steel tubing 116 that is brazed, welded or otherwise fastened to the top sheet l3l1.1 of housing 11 which has a hole 11.2. Also secured to -the top sheet 11.1, or to both the top sheet and the two ends of -the gtube 16, are port plates 21 and-22. Figs. l1 and 2 indicate these plates as screwed to the top plate 11.1, with'tll'e ends of tube 16 extending therethrough. These plates provide, with the respective openings of tube 16, a control port c and `an exit port e. After assembly of the channel -tfube 16 with the housing 11, lead is poured into the opening @11.2 and after solidiiication of the lead without shrinks or voids, the container is closed by welding ,the cover 11.3 over the opening l11.2, as show-n in Fig. l. v nIt will be obvious that shielding materials' other than lead can be used, that the housing block S proper can take any convenient and advantageous shape, and that the tortuons path dened by channel C canhaye, fQrmS, Gills! than the herein disclosed L lrshape, so long as essentially equivalent shielding concomitant with ease of handling .isproyideds f Brazedfor otherwis fastened .tothe plate 2 1 of QOlllOl -port c is a control guide 3.1 made of exible material, such as metal hose. f .As indicated in Fig. 3, this. llexbl@ guide'means is secured, such as by brazing, to the guide end 35.1 of a tubular. control unit 3.5, the .other end of which is preferably .closedwitna cap .35.2 in order to avoid plugging with extraneous An elougte propelling means, such vas z tilexihler steel Wire; 41, is4 inserted into .the channel tube 16: and. into the hose .3.1, fi

thusleading into the control .tuhe35 .where it is -fastened to aV control block 42 .(fFigs. 3. and 4.) which slidingly fits theY interior of tube 35. and which h as a handle .43 with knob. 44 extending through a slot 46 of tube 35.' As

indicated in Fig. 3, the Wire 41-can .be moved withinthe hose 31, the channel C, and the exposing channel to be described below, by moving. the slide 42 within the control tube 35. The travel of the propelling wire is limited by the length of the. slot 46.

Fastened to port plate 22 is an exposure conduit such as hose 51 (Figs. 1 and 2) which c an be of the same material as tube'31. This exposure conduit or guide ends in an exposure head 52, which is also shown in Fig. 5. This head is brazed or otherwise secured at .53. to theend of hose 51 and has a cavity 54 to receive a capsule 4.8 (Fig. 2) which is fastened to the end of wire 41 and contains the source. of radiation. It will now be understood that the distance from the midpoint of channel 16, through the exit side of the channel and ythrough hose. 51, to head 52 willy be approximatelyy equal to the length ofthe slot 46 of the control tube 35.

The device is operated as follows:

In safe position of the capsule 48, the knob 44; is located as-indicated in Fig. 3.- With this position of the knob. in the control tube 35,'the. capsule 48 is in, the center of the shielding block S, as indicated in Fig. 2. For exposure, the shield unit is wheeled or otherwise moved tol Within a convenient distance from thev spot where the source is to be used. The exposure head 52j is then positionedV in the exact spot where the source will be used for exposure. l'f the exposure point is inaccessible, the full length of the exposure hose 51 will be utilized but if this point' iseasily accessible the shield unit 11 can be brought. closer .and hose. 51. will be. coiled. or otherwise disposed. The control hose 31 with wire 41 is stretched outlto.. bring. the. location of head 52 into. safe distance from the location of controlfunit 35. The. operator then moves the knob 44 towards the. open end 35.1 of. the tube 35,` as indicated in dotted lines at 44.1 of. Fig. 3. The capsule. 4.8. will. then. be located within head 52, and the exposure takes. place. .When the exposure is `finished, the capsule 48 is. withdrawn into the. safeposition shown in Fig. 2,1-by moving knob.44 tothe safe. position that is indicated with full lines in Fig. 3. As indicated in Fig. 3, I

'the-endsotube 35.can be marked Open. and Safe.

` It should be understood'thatv the presentdisclosure is forthe purposeot illustration only and that this inventionincludes all. modications and equivalents which fall withiny the.. scope4 of the appended claims.

1I-cla1nz l 1f. Equipment for shieldingandmanipulating a carrier forJenergy'. emitting. material, comprising; a shielding body containing a curved channel for conlirn'ing-the carrier, Asaid channel having twoportswith separate and distinct..` axes, and beinglsuilciently wide throughout its length .-to accommodate. the carriergliexibleguide means extending from at least.one of said` ports; llexible but longitudinally .substantiallyA inelasticY elongate. propelling means. movable withinsaid guidev means and said channel; couplingmeansfon attaching acarrier to one: end

of said propelling. means. .for withdrawal. with. that. end into said channel from an exposed position; and at the other end of said propelling means actuating means `for freely shifting the propelling means and hence the coupling means in either vdirection for unattended rest in either one of two predetermined limiting positions corresponding to'withdrawal into and expulsion from the channel.

'.21 'Equinmet @sordina to claim 1 wherein flexible guide means extend from 'both portsg'fnrther comprising, at the end of the llexible guide means which is opposite said couplingl means, means forreceivingsaid carrier.

3. Eguipmentaccording to, claim l, wherein ilexible guide means `extend from one of said ports; further comprising, at the end of Said ilexible guide means, means for receiving said carrier.

4. 'Equipment according to claim l, wherein said actuating' means includes a tubular member attached to said guide means that extends. from one ofsaid ports and having a longitudinal slot whose ends deiine said limiting positions, and within said tubular member a slide piece extending through said slot and being attached to said other end of said propelling means.

5. For apparatus of the type described, a shield` unit for manipulating a carrier for anV energy emitting source, comprising: a block of shielding material; within said block a curved channel for conning the source and p being suciently wide throughout its length to accommodate the carrier, having an exit port and a control port; flexible hollow guide means for an elongate propelling means at both said control port and said exit port; elongatedlexible. but longitudinally inelastic propelling means freely movable through said channel and said guide means for attachment to an end thereof of an emitting source.; and source receiving means at theA end ofthe exible guide means at the exit port for receiving the carrier when moved thereinto through said ilexible guide means by said propelling means.

6.v Equipment for shielding and manipulating a carrier for energy emitting material, comprising: a shielding block containing. Van essentially U-shaped unobstructed channel for the. carrier terminating at an exit port and at a cont-rol port; a Vflexibly tubular exit guide means extending sfromsaid exit port; .a flexibly tubular control guide means attached to said slide piece and having at the other end means for attaching said carrier, the length of said wire being such that said carrier is safely confined in said channelj within said block with said slide piece resting vin one extremelposition, and said carrier is Within said exposure head with said slide piece resting in the Vother extremeposition.

7. Apparatus accordingl to clairnS comprising a control unit at theend of` the ilexible guide means at the controlV port for; controlling the motion of said propelling means relative to said channel and said guide means.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 

